Game apparatus for trading purposes.



No. 677,905. Patented July 9, l90l.

W. TRlBBjLE.

GA IE APPARATUS FOR TRADING. PURPOSES.

(Agglicption; filed. mm. 3, 190g 3' Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 677,905. Patented July 9, 190i. W. TRIBBLE.

GAME APPARATUS FOR TRADING PURPOSES.

(Application filed Mar. 3, 1900.) A (No Modal.) 3 Shaets-$haet 2.

w ll;

m: noun: men 60., PnoTo-uma, WASHINGTON. n. c.

Nu. 677,905. Patented July 9, l90l. W. TBIBBLE.

GAME APPARATUS FOR TRADING PURPOSES.

(Appliqation mm mi. 3, 1900.

3 Sheets-Sheet a.

- UNITED STATES PATENT FFEQE- WILLIAM TRIBBLE, or ALTON, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters I atent 0. 677,905, dated July 9, 1901.

Application filed March 3, 1900. 1 Serial No. L2H. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, .WILLIAI/I TRIBBLE, citizen of the United States, residing at Alton, in the county of Madison and State of'Illinois, have invented a new'and useful Game Apparatus for Trading Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a form of game apparatus which I designate as a trading-machine and in which a movable object is adapted to traverse a field with pockets, each inscribed with a designating character or number to indicate the number or character of the articles to be delivered by a tradesman to a customer, who must deposit a coin of a known value in the machine.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which on the deposit of a proper coin and the operation by the customer of an exposed part-of the machine sets in operation certain mechanism that automatically projects a movable object across the pocketed field.

A further object is to provide an objectprojecting motor mechanism which is releasable and is set into action solely by the entrance of the movable object itself, whereby after projection of said object across the field and its return to the motor mechanism Without entering any one of the pockets said motor mechanism will be again operated automatically to again project the object, such operation being repeated any number of times and in an automatic manner until the object enters into one of the pockets.

A further object that I have in view is to provide a coin-actuated mechanism which returns the movable object to its field of operation only on the deposit of a proper coin, the return of such object taking place at the period of discharge of the coin into the machine, preferably into a drawer, where it cannot be reached by the customer.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the sub joined description, and the novelty in the combinations of mechanisms and in the construction and arrangement of parts will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented a coin-controlled apparatus which embodies the several features of my invention in their preferred form, and to these drawings I shall now refer in order to explain more clearly the nature of the invention and tail perspective ,view of the coin-controlled mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the returning mechanism associated with the coin-actuated mechanism for returning the movable object to the playing-field on the de posit of a proper coin. Fig. 7 is a detail View of the object-detaining devices which are associated with certain pockets inscribed with numbers of a higher order than other pockets of the field.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

The casinglO may be of any preferred con struction and shape to contain the whole se ries of operating devices of a trading-machine embodying this invention; but in the preferred embodiment shown by the drawings said casing is of compact form, with a flat bottom to enable it to be placed on a counter, a table, or any other surface in a store or the like. At one end the casing is provided in its top 11 with a coin-slot 12, and in the lower part of the structure is a coinreceiving drawer 13. An observation-slot 14, covered by a transparent pane, is formed in this casing in the same plane as the coindrawer, although a suitable coin-box may be substituted for the drawer. I

One of the elements of my improved machine is an inclined field 16, which is contained wholly inside of the casing and below a transparent panel 16, whereby the field is exposed to the view of the customer, who is enabled to ascertain the course pursued by the movable object and the number of the pocket into which the object may be received. The field is supported on a ledge or flange 15,

which the obj ect-proj ectin g motor is arranged.

At this end of the field the Walls 17 have straight lengths 18, disposed in parallel relation and forming between themselves a chute or passage-Way through which the movable object is free to travel either on its return to the motor mechanism or when projected by said motor mechanism across the field. The

other ends of the diverging Walls are rounded to form the deflecting-surfaces 19, and these rounded surfaces meet or intersect one with the other, so as to form a crest 20, the same being located in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the'fie'ld and directly opposite toor in l line with the chute 18.

This playing-field is provided with a large number of pockets, which are formed by openings 21, that are in- I discriminately arranged on oppos te sides of a line drawn through the crest and the chute formed by the boundary-wallsof the field. I prefer, however, to employ a single pocket 21' I at a point close to the crest 20 and in the otherwise non-perforated portion of the field, i

which lies between the two groups of openings therein. Each of the pocketsisinscribed with a numeral or other character, as at 22, and in the use of the machine as a means for; dispensing cigars the major portion of the pockets are inscribed with the no moral 1-to indicate that one cigar is to be given to the customer when the movable obj ect'ente rs such pocket, while two or more of the pockets are inscribed with the numeral 2. Other pockets have the numeral 3 as the indicatingcharacte-r, while the pocket 21 is inscribed with the numeral 4. Of course-the numbering of the pockets is arbitrary and, if desired, the pockets may be indicated by other characters than the numerals.

To increase the interest in the service the apparatus and to insure the movable object pursuing a tortuous or circuitous course over the field as it rebounds from the crest 20 or the curved deflecting-surfaces 19, I have I provided the obstructing-studs 23, which project upwardly from the field in the intervals between the openings or pockets 21.

The movable object is designed to be forcibly impelled across that imperforate portion of the playing-field which lies between the crest 20 and the chute 18 and also bet-ween the two groups of numbered pockets or open-;

ings, and the impelling mechanism is operated 'by'a motor, which is contained within a casing 10 and is maintained or held normally at rest by a brake or clutch mechanism that is releasable solely by the weight or gravity chute 1S. secured firmly in any approved wayon a shaft 35, which is supported in the frame 2 of the of the movable object 83. This motor mechanism is contained in a frame 24, which is secured within the machine at one end of the I playing-field and on one side of the chute 18.

This frame supports a driving-spring 25 and a train of gears 26, the latter being driven from the spring, and said spring being mounted on an arbor having a protruding end, which is accessible by a key or crank adapted to be turned in order to place the spring under tension. The motor mechanism in general resembles a clock mechanism, although the type of motor may be varied, so that an electric motor or other power mecha-nism may be used in lieu thereof. The train 'of gearsincludes a shaft 27, which is extended beyond oneside of the frame for the reception of the detent wheel or disk 28, the latter being provided with an annular series of pins or studs 29. Associated with the studs or pins of the detent-w'heel is a .yieldable memher that is adapted to be placed under tension and to be moved to an operative position, so that on its sudden release-said member operates to forcibly impel the movable object 83 across the playing-field. This impellin'g member is in the form of a'sprin-g-arm 30, disposed in a substantially upright position and in the same longitudinal plane as the chute 18, the upper end of said spring-arm being secured firmly to a post 31, that extends upwardly from the frame 2%. The lower unconfined or free end of this yieldable propelling member or arm 30 plays freely in a longitudinal slot 32, provided in a trip-table 33. Said trip-table occupies an approximately horizontalposition at one-end of the playingfield and in the longitudinal plane of the This trip-table has one end thereof motor mechanism; but the other end of said triptab'le is curved, inclined, or otherwise fashioned to normally lie in flush relation with the end of the playing-field which is extended into the chute 18, such fiush relation of the table with the playing-field facilitating the passage of the movable object from the playing-field upon the trip-table. This triptable, ata point intermediate of its length, is formed with the curved or arcuate portion 34:, containing the slot 32, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The shaft 35., which serves as the pivot for the trip-table, carries a shoe or clutch member 36, the latter engaging with the peripheral edge of a brake-wheel or clutch member 37 on a shaft 38, said shaft beingjournaled in the frame 24 and driven bythe train of gears. A spring 39 is supported on a stem or rod 40, that is mounted in the frame at one side or above the shaft 35, and this stem 40 is adjustable by the manipulation of a nut 41 for the purpose of varying the tension of the spring 39. Said spring engages frictionally with the brake-shoe or clutch member 36 to hold the latter normally in sufii cient frictional contact with the brake-wheel or rotary clutch member 37 for the purpose of arresting said member 37, the train of gears, and the detent-wheel '28, whereby the motor is held at rest against the expenditure of the energy of the spring. The shaft 35, which carries the brake-shoe or yield-able clutch member 36, also serves as the axis of motion of the trip-table 33, and this spring is thus utilized to hold thetrip-table in its elevated position and for its free or unconfined end to occupy the flush relation to that part of the playing-field between the walls forming the chute 18. The movable object 83 in passing through the chute from the playingfield travels over the unconfined end of the trip-table and impinges against the yioldable impelling member 30.- The weight of this movable object depresses the trip-table and rocks the shaft 35 a limited distance for the purpose of releasing the frictional engagement of the shoe 36 with the wheel 37, whereby the spring becomes active to rotate the detent-wheel 28. On such rotation one of the studs or pins 29 rides against the yieldable impelling member 30, so as to draw the latter in a direction away from the chute 18, and this impelling member is thus placed under tension and permits the movable object to travel along the curved portion 34 of the table for a limited distance. On the continued rotation of the detent-wheel 28 the stud or pin 29 thereof becomes disengaged from the impelling member, thus forcibly releasing the latter and causing it to fiy for- Ward suddenly, thus forcibly striking the movable object 83 and impelllng it ,under considerable speed across the playing-field. The depression of the trip-table under the weight of the movable object makes the curved portion 34 of said table occupy such relation to the playing-field that the object in traversing the curved portion of the table quickly under the propulsive energy of the impelling member passes over the gap or space between the table and the edge of the playing-field, thus minimizing any tendency of the movable object to strike against the edge of the field and obstruct the course of said object. As the movable object leaves the trip-table the spring 39 becomes active to immediately return the shoe 36 into ongagement with the brake-wheel37, thereby arresting the latter, the train of gears, and the detent-wheel 28, so that the parts are in condition for operation immediately on the return of the movable object to the yieldablysupported trip-table.

Beneath the playing-field is a floor 42 which lies parallel to said field and is closed at its edges by. a wall 43, the latter uniting the floor to the under side of the field and having parallel portions 44, which form a chute that is disposed in a plane corresponding to the imperforate portion of the playing-field between the two groups of openings 21, said chute 44 being in communication with a trapopening 45. This trap-opening is formed in the playing-field between the crest and the chute 18 and below the groups of openings or pockets 21, said opening being closed normally by a hinged or pivoted trap-door 46, adapted to close by gravity or be closed by the action of a spring, so that the door will occupy a flush relation with the playing-field. The movable object 83 after passing through one of the openings or pockets drops upon the floor 42 and rolls into the chute 44 until it is arrested by engagement with a curved lifting-arm 47, the latter being normally arranged in the chute 44, so as to intercept the movable object,w,hich rolls into the chute by reason of the inclination of the floor and the convergence or curvature of the wall 43, the latter serving as the means for directing the ball into the chute 44. One end of the lift ing-arm is made fast with a rock-shaft 48,v

as at 53, and is disposed to slide freely in a guide 55, provided on the coin-plate 54, the latter being secured firmly to a suitable part of the machine-framesuch, for example, as the end of the playing-fieldsaid coin-plate being contiguous to the lower part of a coinchute 66, presently described. The reciprocatory rod is connected loosely or pivotally to the crank-arm 50, but the other end of this rod is formed into or provided with an angular arm 56, which terminates in an enlarged head 57 and is disposed in front of the fixed coin-plate, said head occupying a spaced relation to the coin-plate for the purpose of permitting a coin introduced into the machine to enter freely between the plate and the headed end of the rod. A coin-carrying slide 58 is fitted in a guideway 59,Which is secured in any suitable way to the front of the casing, and this slide and its guideway are disposed in the horizontal plane of the headed end of the rod, said parts being arranged for the carrying-slide to have rectilinear reciprocating play toward or from the fixed coin-plate. Said slide is provided with a coin-receiving opening or slot 60, the width of which is less than the diameter of the coin required for the operation of the machine, said carrier-slide being also provided at its slotted end with the inwardlyextending lugs 61, against which the coin may rest when it is fitted on the slide. A A post 62 is made fast to the slide at a point in front of the slot 60 therein, and to this post is fastened the inner end of an operating-stem 63, the latter passing through a suitable guide at the front of the casing and re- ICC The spring 51 now becomes active to returnj ceiving a knob 64 of any suitable character, 1 which may be grasped by the customer for the purpose of drawing the slide outwardly.

A spring 65 is attached to the post or other I part of the slide and to a fixed part within i the casing, said spring serving normally to pull the slide in a direction for the headed 1 arm of the reciprocatory rod to lie within the open :coin slot 60 of the slide. The coinchute 66 is secured within the casing for its f upper end to register with the coin-slot 12, j and the lower part of this coin --chute is curved, as at 67, so as to provide an opening in one side of the chute, which opening enables the coin to slide out of the chute upon the coin-slide and between the headed arm} of the rod and the coin-plate, whereby the coin lies between the lugs of the carrier-slide connecting-link between the slide and the rei ciprocatory rod. \Vith the coin in the positio-n described and the movable object in the chute 44, so as to rest against the lifting-arm, the customer pulls the stem outwardly, so as j to draw'the slide toward the end of the ca-s- 1 ing. The coin moves with the slide because the lugs prevent its displacement, and the coin thus gives movement to the arm 56 for j the purpose of moving end-wise the rod 52, said rod pulling on the crank of the rock shaft to overcome the tension of the spring and swing the lifting-arm 47 in an upward direction, thereby lifting the movable object, which forces open the trap-door and projects I the object upon the playing-field. The movej ment of the coin with the slide is limited and arrested by'the employment-of the-ejector 68, I which is in the form of a rod fastened to the casing and disposed above the slide in the path of the coin, whereby the movement-ofthe slideland the coin brings the latter into: contact with the ejector, which on the eon-' tinued movement of the slide turns the coi-n 3 over and discharges the same from the slide.

the rock-shaft to its normal position, whereby the rod is moved for its head to lie opposite the coin-plate and the lifting-arm is lowered for the trap-door't'o return to its usual position flush with the playing-field.

I have also equipped the machine with de-' vices in line with the openings or pockets containing the numbers of high order for the purpose of holding the movable object against dropping on the floor 42 until the tradesman is able to inspect the machine at the call of a customer and inform himselfof the number of articles which the customer is entitled to receive at thehands of the tradesman. These detainers contemplate the em-' ployment of rock-shafts 70 71, which are ar- 1' nged beneath the floor, across the latter, and I j ournaled in suitable bearings 75. The rockshaft 70 has a seriesof rest-fingers 72, which project outwardly through openings'72 in thei floor 42and lie below the openings'or pock-i ets inscribed with the numerals 2. The other rock-shaft 71 has a series of fingers 73 74, each projecting through openings 78' in. the floor 42, so that the fingers 73 will lie opposite the openings inscribed with the numeral 3, while the finger 74 is below the opening having the numeral 4. The rock-shafts are provided with short depending arms :76, to-

: ing, preterably at the end opposite to the and the headed end of the arm to serve as a :7

stem, for the coin-carrier slide, and this red .is provided at its inner edge with a loop 82, which loosely engages with the finger 7 8 on the pi'tman that connects the crank-arms of the two rock-shafts. WVhen the movable object enters one of the pockets insc-ribed'with a numeral of high order, it rests upon one of 'theseries :of fingers and is thereby prevented from drop-pin g on the floor until the rod 81 is actuated by hand. The outward movement of'this rodovercomes the tension of the spring 79 and turns the shafts, so as to lower the fin- :gers 5 but when the rod is released the spring returns the shafts and the fingers to their nor- .mal positions.

The movable object 88 is in the form of a ball or sphere, which may be of metal or any other suitable material. The weight of this object is sufficient to depress the til-table ta- 'ble 33 against the tension of the spring 39; but the employment of the adjustable stem and the nutenables the spring to be regulated so as to suit the weight of the object and press the brake-shoe into frictional engagement with the hrak-e-wheel sufficiently to check the rotation of "the latter in opposition to the propulsiveenergy of the motorspring.

A-ss'uming that the machine is to be used in connection with the sale of cigars, the movable object 83 lies in the lower chute 44 a in engagementwi-th'the lifting-arm 47. The

customer deposits acoin in theslot12, which coin is received in the chute a-nd'is directed upon thecoin-slide to lie'between the lugs61 and the head 57 of the reciprocatory rod 42. The stem 63 is now pulled outward, and the coin gives endwise movement to the rod 42 until said coin engages with the ejectorGS, :at which period the eoin'is forced ofi the slide and the latter is pulled back by the spring. The movemen'tof the rod 52 turns the rockshaft and lifts the arm 47 to raise the movableobjec't and open the trap-door, said rod and door being thereafter returned to their normal positions. The-entrance of the movable object upon the playing-field causes it to'traverse thefield'until received-in the chute 18, where it rests on the tiltable table 33 and in engagement with the impelling member 30. The gravity of the object depresses the table and releases the brake mechanism for the spring and the gears to turn the studded wheel 28, the latter placing the impelling member under tension and quickly releasing the said impelling member, after which the brake becomes active to arrest the motor. The releasal of the impelling member makes it strike the movable object with considerable force and projects said object forcibly across the field until it strikes the crest 20 or the deflecting-surfaces 19. The rebound of the movable object either from the surfaces 19 or the crest 20 makes the object traverse the perforated part of the field; but in case the object does not enter either of the openings or pockets it is free to return to the chute 18 to again set the motor mechanism in operation. This may be repeated as often as the movable object is returned to the chute; but when the object enters one of the pockets the motor mechanism cannot be again operated until the subsequent deposit of the coin. If the object enters one of the pockets marked 1, it is returned to the lower chute 14, and the customer is entitled to receive a single cigar, thus rendering an equivalent for the coin deposited in the machine. The entrance of the object into one of the pockets marked 2, 3, or entitles the customer to receive as many cigars as are indicated by the number on the pocket into which the object enters, and the latter rests on one of the fingers heretofore described. The storekeeper mayinspect the machine to ascertain the number of cigars the customer is entitled to receive, and the rod 81 is then operated to release the object and insure its return to the lower chute 44;, thus placing the machine in condition for operation by the subsequent deposit of a coin.

Although I have described the machine as adapted to be used for dispensing or selling cigars, it is evident that other articles of merchandise may be sold by the aid of this machine, which is calculated to afford amusement to the customer and to promote the trade of the storekeeper.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts while their essen tial features are retained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the movable object, of a playing-field having means for the passage of the object to a position beneath the same, a single mechanism for projecting the object across the field, and comprising means for being automatically released and successively set in action by the weight of the object as long as the latter remains upon the field, and separate means for returning the object to the projecting mechanism from its position beneath the field.

2. An apparatus of the class described,comprising a playing-field provided with openings, a movable object adapted to traverse the field,and of asize permitting it to pass through any of the openings therein, asingle mechanism controlling an impelling member, which forcibly projects the object across the field, said mechanism being releasable by the weight of the object, and means for returning the movable object to the projecting mechanism subsequent to the passage of the object through one of said openings.

3. An apparatus of the class described com prising a playing-field provided with openings, a movable object adapted to traverse said field and of a size permitting it to pass through any of said openings to a position beneath the field, a single motor mechanism including an impelling member normally at rest, said mechanism being releasable solely through the medium of the weight of the object, and means for mechanically returning the movable object to the playing-field from its position beneath the latter.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the movable object, of a playing-field having means for the passage of the object to a position beneath the same, a single motor mechanism controllable solely by the weight of the object, and including means for forcibly impelling the object across,"

the field, said impelling means being automatically released and set in action through the medium of the object on each return of the latter into operative relation to the mech anism, and means for returning the movable object to the projecting mechanism from its position beneath the field.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the movable object, of a playing-field having means for the passage of the object to a position beneath the same, a single motor mechanism including an impelling member, a clutch device controllable solely by the weight of the object, and means for normally restraining the motor mechanism in an inactive position through said clutch device, and'separate means for returning the movable object to the projecting mechanism from its position beneath the field.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the playing-field and the movable object, of a motor mechanism comprising an impelling member, a clutch device, and a tiltable table controlling the clutch device and actuated by the movable object to release the clutch device, and means for returning the movable object to the playingfield, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the playing-field and the movable object, of a motor mechanism comprising a clutch, a trip-table associated with the clutch and disposed in the path of vide for the projection of the movable object across the playing-field, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the movable object, of a playing-field having means for the passage of the object to a position beneathlthe same, a normally inactive motor mechanism includble solely by the weight of the movable object, for setting the motor mechanism into action, and causing the alternate releasing and setting of the said impelling member to provide for the projection of the movable object across the field, and separate means for returning the object to the motor mechanism fromits position beneath the field.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the playing-field. and the movable object, of a motor mechanism including an impelling member, means for setting and releasing the said impelling memher, and a trip-table adapted to be actuated by the movable object and provided with a depressed portion to receive said object.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with the playing-field and the movable object, of a motor mechanism including an impelling member, a-clutch device to hold the motor mechanism normally inactive, a trip-table controlling the clutch device-and adapted to be actuated by the movable object, and a studded wheel arranged in active relation to the impelling member and adapted to alternately set and release the same when the motor mechanism is in action.

11. In an apparatus of the class described,

' its lower end a chute, a movable object, an

impelling member disposed for operation in said chute, a single motor mechanism comprising means for alternately releasing and setting the impelling member, means, actuated by the weight of the movable object, for setting the motor mechanism into action and separate means for returning the object to the playing-field after passage through one of the openings therein.

1 2. In an apparatus of the class described, an inclined playing-field provided with upwardly-divergent walls, inwardly curved at the upper end of the field to provide a centrally-located, downwardly-projecting crest, and: mechanism for projecting a movable obj ect across the field, substantially as set forth.

13. An apparatus of the class described comprising an inclined playing-field, provided with a series of pockets or openings and with studs projecting from said field in the intervals between the pockets, and mechanism substantially such as described for forcibly impelling a movable object across the field, as set forth.

14:. An apparatus of the class described comprising a playing-field, having a series of openings,a nd a return trap-door which is normally closed flush with the surface of the field, a movable object, mechanism for impelling said object across the field, and comprising means for being automatically and continuously set in actionby the object as long as the latter remains upon the field, and ing an impelling member, means, controllaan object-returning device disposed to intercept the object and in operative relation to the trap-door, substantially as set forth.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a playing-field having openings therein and also provided witha trap door, a movable object, mechanism for automatically and continuously projecting the-object across the field as long as the latter remains in play thereon, a lifting-arm disposed in the path of said object and arranged to actuate the trap-door, and means for operating said lifting-arm, substantially as set forth.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, the combinationof the playing-field provided with a series of openings,a door normally flush with the field, and a floor below said lifting the object through said door,and meansfor impelling the object across the field, as set forth.

1?. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a playing-field having openings therein and also provided with a trap-door, a rock-shaft below the field, a lifting-arm movable with said shaft and disposed in operative relation to the door and in the path of a movable object, a rod connected to said shaft, and means for operating said rod, as set forth.

18. An apparatus of the class described comprising a playing-field having a series of openings or pockets, detaining-fingers in operative relation to certain of said openings or pockets, means for throwing the saidfingers out of position, and an impelling mechanism for a movable object, as set forth.

19. An apparatus of the class described comprising a playing-field having a series of openings or pockets, and a floor below said openings or pockets, retaining devices opposite to certain of the openings or pockets,

comprising a playing-field having a series of pockets, rock-shafts below the field and provided With upstanding fingers disposed 0p- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

posite to certain of the pockets, a link con- WM. TRIBBLE; necting said rock-shafts, a pull-rod for op- Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS,

EDWIN E. VROOMAN.

erating the shafts, and means for impelling an object across the field, as set forth. 

